:doorbell_v2: "Cameras as Chime"! Now even buggier in the v3.0 app!

Cameras
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I would’ve added a :cockroach: bug tag to this if the system would’ve let me.

Other users on the Forum have reported inconsistent results when trying to use this feature[1][2], and I’ve had my own problems trying to use it. I want to document some issues here.

First, the app (I’m using the current Wyze production Android app) doesn’t seem to accept or report settings for this feature as expected. Note these steps, which I walk through in the accompanying video:

  1. In the doorbell’s settings for Chime, I tap Cameras as Chime, which shows that it’s “Not setup” at that time. This navigates to the Select cameras screen.
  2. I select my Cam OG and then Done. This navigates to a Cameras as Chime screen which gives me options for the selected camera(s).
  3. I select the upper-left back button. This navigates back to the beginning Chime screen and this time shows “1 camera” is set for Cameras as Chime. This is correct.
  4. I tap on the Cameras as Chime line to confirm. This shows that the Cam OG has been set on the Cameras as Chime screen.
  5. I tap :heavy_plus_sign: in the upper-right to get to the Select cameras screen again.
  6. I tap to deselect Cam OG and then Done. This navigates back to the Cameras as Chime screen and shows “No cameras added.”
  7. I tap the upper-left back button to get back to the initial Chime screen, which shows that “1 camera” is still set for Cameras as Chime. This is incorrect. :cockroach::-1:
  8. I tap on the “1 camera” label again to get to the Cameras as Chime screen, but it still shows “No cameras added.”
  9. I tap the upper-left back button again to get to the Chime screen, which still shows that “1 camera” is set.
  10. I tap “1 camera” again to confirm that actually no cameras are selected and demonstrate that the app is giving me incorrect information.
  11. I tap :heavy_plus_sign: to get to the Select cameras screen, which confirms that none of the cameras are selected.
  12. I tap the upper-left back button, and the Cameras as Chime screen continues to show “No cameras added.”
  13. I tap the upper-left back button again, and the Chime screen continues to show the erroneous “1 camera” message.
  14. I tap the upper-left back button again to get to the main Settings screen.
  15. I tap Chime, and the Chime screen finally shows the correct “Not setup” message on the Cameras as Chime line.

Apparently it’s necessary to back all the way out to the main Settings screen in order for the Cameras as Chime setting to show correct information when a users is changing these chime selection settings.

Second, deselecting cameras here isn’t actually turning the feature off consistently. The above video demonstrates that I begin and end with no cameras selected, yet one of my Cam Pan v3s continues to chime, and I haven’t yet discovered a way to turn it off. Not only that, it actually chimes twice in slow succession (usually a 1-to-2-second delay between chimes after a doorbell button press).

I haven’t yet done exhaustive testing of this second issue, but I think it illustrates a genuine use case for adding a simulated doorbell button press to the app and/or adding a “Ring” Action for doorbells in Rules. In order for me to do all the resets, restarts, and power-cycling operations necessary to really troubleshoot this, I need to physically move the problem Cam Pan v3 close to the doorbell button or recruit someone else (to listen for the chime or press the button between troubleshooting steps). Having some way to remotely trigger a ring would be useful for a number of different reasons.

Third, the public documentation for this feature needs work. The Wyze Help Center article “I’m not seeing my camera as a chime option for my Wyze Video Doorbell v2.” provides incorrect information about which camera models can be used as chimes:

  • Currently, only Wyze Cam OG is compatible with Wyze Video Doorbell v2.

The “Can I use a Wyze Cam as a chime for Wyze Video Doorbell v2?” article actually gives more accurate information, but it’s buried within the FAQ section for the Cam Floodlight v2! I’ve contacted Wyze Support about these documentation issues (Wyze Ticket 3899798), but they’re still broken as of the time of this writing.

Clearly this is one of many features that’s still very much a work in progress.

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Yeah, it seems like mostly a “beta” type of feature right now. I love the idea, just need to work out some of the bugs so it is more seemless.

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I like it when it works. When I had a Cam OG in a different location, I was able to turn that feature on to give me an accessory chime for the doorbell, and it worked as expected.

I don’t know if there’s an insurmountable technical hurdle to providing a remote doorbell button press (i.e., I don’t know if it’s technically possible), but that’s a feature that I would really like to see implemented, because it could relieve a major pain point for configuration and troubleshooting.

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I’ve given up fiddling when Wyze stuff doesn’t work, because it’s not anything I’ve done, it’s something Wyze has broken. No need getting frustrated. If it works, great, If not, make sure you have other products from another manufacturer and don’t kill yourself trying to figure out what Wyze broke

My V2 camera as chime worked for one day. Then never again, despite me changing nothing. “Operation failed” when trying to add any of the three devices it “sees”.

My V2 also randomly dislikes its sd card. Maybe that’s related (seems unlikely) but if I format it then it will work again for a few weeks

The Wyze doorbells really are sort of a shotgun approach to a usable IP doorbell. Not sure why it is so difficult to engineer such a simple product, or why so many assumptions are made about what a user might already have in place, with no flexibility for any variance from what was assumed. Ring seems a lot more sensible in their approach

I did have the V2 working through Alexa but it was quite convoluted to set up and then defaulted to announce on every Alexa device (in multiple locations) when the doorbell was pressed (instead of just the devices at the same location as the doorbell). Life’s too short! I’ll just use a real doorbell :slight_smile:

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Apparently this feature is even more problematic for iOS users.

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Now this feature seems to be failing entirely in the v3.0 Android app, as others have reported elsewhere[1][2]:

I can still select cameras (Cam OG and Cam Pan v3) in the v2.5x Android app without having it puke on me, but that version of the app is still displaying the behavior I demonstrated in my initial post here.

:pencil2: Edit: I submitted a report to Wyze Support:

  • Log ID: 1526259
  • Wyze Ticket: 4026639

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This is the exact same problem I’m experiencing. Frustrating as I bought my doorbell v2 with this feature in mind. This was my full intended use plan for the doorbell and now I am stuck waiting for a fix.

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At least you get that far. I JUST bought this doorbell to replace a faulty August Doorbell and I can’t get the feature to work - like AT ALL.
I’ve got the doorbell set up and I get to the point where the Cameras as Chime button says “Not setup”. I click the button and a list of cameras pops up for less than half a second before I’m booted back out of the menu with ac little box that just says “fail”. Doesn’t matter how many times I try- I can’t get the feature to work.

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I don’t get anything saying ac not set up or nothing. I touch the button "camera as chime " and just like the video I see my cameras in a list for less than a blink of the eye and a box saying fail. Same as u basically minus wtvr that “not set up” bit u get. It sucks. I decided to buy and install a mechanical doorbell to use this stupid doorbell with. Atleast the mechanical chime came with a transformer and a pair of regular doorbell buttons. The kit was 25 CAD online. Roll of wire was another 18 bucks. I wanted to use my camera as a chime originally. Whats stupid, I rent. Lol. Oh well. If I ever move, it can all stay here. Screw it.

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Welcome to the Forum, @shademask! :wave:

This buggy feature is frustrating for sure, and it’s one of the reasons I’m keeping the v2.5x Android app on my main phone for now, because at least there I’m not getting the “Fail” message.

My ticket went through 6 different Wyze Wizards before they closed it 3 days ago:

Regrettably, we do not have a specific timeframe for the next app update release or a fix for the issue at this moment. As a result, we will be closing this ticket for now.

That’s about all I know. :man_shrugging:

I think this was just a typo. I think @shademask probably intended this:

The “Not setup” message is visible in the video. It’s on the same line you where you tap “Cameras as Chime” when you’re trying to select cameras for the first time…right before it gives the “Fail” message. :disappointed:

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Yes, it was a typo.

I ended up finding a very strange way around there being no camera chime option. Had been digging around the net and…

I mean, it’s a bit of a “duct tape” solution but it works.

If you have a Wyze smart plug, you can have the Wyze app trigger it when you push the doorbell button. So we can make that plug turn on.

So, interestingly enough, you can actually use that as a Google Routine trigger! You simply create a routine where, if that plug turns on, Google will now announce on all your smart speakers that someone is at the door. Then you can have it turn off the plug.

It’s not perfect, but it kind of solves the problem of not having a chime.

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Yeah I saw that. I do want to get some plugs. I already have a few that are Google compatible and works with Googles voice commands. Once I get some ill probably try it out. Then if I like it better, shut off the mechanical chime. Im going to leave the chime if ever I move but ill definitely be taking my video doorbell.

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Yeah that response they gave to your ticket sounds alot like “we don’t know how to fix it, dont know that we will fix it and dont know when we might fix it.”. I really like the cameras. They work well and at their price point, it’s difficult to turn down. I just wish their software was less buggy.

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I’ve been doing that for months, only I start with my Wyze Plug in an “on” state, because I actually have something plugged into it, but it doesn’t matter if it turns off for a minute every once in awhile:

I agree. Since the whole thing with a firmware update earlier this year mucking up Video Doorbell v2 notifications, I’ve become much more cautious about updating their products. I tend to take a wait-and-see approach and watch for feedback in the Forum before updating my own things.

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Update! I bought a standard “ding dong” doorbell chime and a 12v AC adapter. Plugged the AC adapter wires into the doorbell and then plugged the whole thing into the Wyze Smart Plug!
Now when someone pushes the button, it makes that doorbell chime ring for a moment, turns it off and announces to the home that someone is at the door. Plus I can basically put that setup anywhere in the house there’s an outlet.

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I like that. You created your own portable doorbell chime, and I’m guessing you’re using your Wyze Device & Service Trigger Automation to power cycle your Plug whenever your Video Doorbell v2 button is pressed. That’s a great idea!
:+1:

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I like the idea of the Wyze plug doorbell automation to power cycle the plug. If one czn have it repeat the power cycle maybe 3 times, and plugged a lamp into the plug, in thdory itd work likd a doorbell for the deaf. Im going to get some plugs to tfy it. Im curious and I want to know now.

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For an application like that, I’d be inclined to use Wyze Bulb Color, Light Strip, or Light Strip Pro, which all include “Color Blink” as an available Action in Automations. You get to choose the color of the blink, and the Action will blink the selected light(s) 5 times.

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Omg the spelling errors in my last post. Jesus. I didn’t know that about the bulbs. Makes sense though since those bulbs usually have that function so yeah good thinking. Im new to the Wyze ecosystem. Only got my first cam in April, the Pan Can v3. Since then ive added a Cam V3, Cam OG and the Doorbell v2. I intend to get a V4 and a Battery cam. I want to see the difference the V4 makes and the battery cam I have a job for in the yard. I like that solar panel add-on for it alot too.

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Exactly! Wyze turns on the bell (which makes the first “ding”) which then activates a Google Routine that turns OFF the switch (which then does the “dong” part of the bell) and announces “Someone’s at the front door” over every smart speaker in the house.